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Mountain List

100 Famous Mountains of Japan

100 peaks

Published in 1964 by writer-mountaineer Kyūya Fukada and awarded the Yomiuri Prize for Literature, *Nihon Hyakumeizan* gathers 100 representative peaks spanning the country from Mt. Rishiri in Hokkaidō to Miyanoura-dake on Yakushima. It mixes truly alpine summits — Japan's highest Mt. Fuji (3,776 m), second-highest Kita-dake (3,193 m), Yari and Tsurugi — with familiar lower mountains like Tsukuba (877 m), Daibosatsu and Amagi.

Fukada's criteria were "character, history and individuality," and most chosen peaks rise above 1,500 m, though stature is not the only test. More than 60 years on, completing the full hundred (the "Hyakumeizan hunt" or "Hyakumeizan challenge") remains a lifetime project for Japanese hikers — typically requiring years of planning and broad experience. This page brings together elevation, prefecture, difficulty and community info for each summit in one place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about this list.

Q. What are the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan?
A.The Hyakumeizan is a list of 100 representative Japanese peaks selected by writer-mountaineer Kyūya Fukada in his 1964 essay collection *Nihon Hyakumeizan*. Fukada chose each peak on the basis of "character, history and individuality," and most rise above 1,500 m.
Q. What's the difference between the Hyakumeizan, Nihyakumeizan and Sanbyakumeizan?
A.The Hyakumeizan is Fukada's personal selection of 100 peaks (1964). The Nihyakumeizan adds another 100 peaks chosen by the Fukada Kyūya Club in 1984. The Sanbyakumeizan was selected independently by the Japanese Alpine Club in 1978 and contains 300 peaks; excluding overlap with the 100 and 200, it adds another 101 — so the three lists together cover 301 unique mountains.
Q. How long does it take to climb all 100 Famous Mountains?
A.Most hikers complete the list over 10–20 years at a pace of 5–10 peaks per year. Several mountains are remote, weather-sensitive or impassable outside the snow-free season, so finishing the project requires sustained planning and travel rather than raw speed.
Q. Which is the hardest of the 100 Famous Mountains?
A.Tsurugi-dake (2,999 m) is generally considered the most difficult, with chained sections such as Kani-no-Tatebai and Yokobai on a rocky ridge. Yari, Hotaka, Poroshiri, Hijiri and Hikari are also expert-grade and not recommended as solo climbs for beginners.
Q. Which is the lowest mountain on the list?
A.Mt. Tsukuba in Ibaraki (877 m) is the lowest of the 100 Famous Mountains. With a cablecar and a ropeway, it is a popular choice for families and first-time hikers who want to summit a Hyakumeizan in a single day.

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